SCOPE
Hydrogen production
Maturity Level
TRL 3-4
Development Level
Prototype
Protection Level
Under study
Transformation of urban and forestry waste to bioplastics
Entity:
Green H2 produced from renewable sources, such as waste biomass, is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In addition to its classic production (steam reforming of methane, refinery or chemical plant waste gases, coal gasification and water electrolysis), the biorefinery enables the conversion of this lignocellulosic waste into bioplastics and H2 through a combination of catalytic, photocatalytic and biological processes.
In addition, the valorisation of biomass into various platform chemical products, as an alternative to their petrochemical counterparts, is possible through these innovative processes that provide a reduction in time and temperature, which favours their industrial application and constitutes an alternative to enzymatic hydrolysis, which is much more time-consuming and expensive in economic terms.
All of these bioplastics can be used to replace plastic parts or other disposable materials and packaging.
Challenges met
- Revalorising residual biomass (coffee grounds, nut shells, rice “pellofa”, forestry residues, etc.) as an alternative to petrochemical sources for the synthesis of bioplastics for disposable materials and packaging.
- Production of biodegradable bioplastics that will reduce the environmental impact of disposal and plastic pollution.
Scope of application
- Recycling and composting plants
- Controlled landfills
- Agricultural and forestry waste
- Bioplastics production industry.
Main publications
- Andhalkar, V.V.; Foong, S.Y.; Kee, S.H.; Lam, S.S.; Chan, Y.H.; Djellabi, R.; Bhubalan, K.; Medina, F.; Constanti, M. 2023. Integrated Biorefinery Design with Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment Tools in Polyhydroxyalkanoates Processing. Macromolecular materials and Engineering. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202300100
- Andhalkar, V.V. ; Ahorsu, R.; de María, P.D.; Winterburn, J.; Medina, F.; Constantí, M. 2022. Valorization of Lignocellulose by Producing Polyhydroxyalkanoates under Circular Bioeconomy Premises: Facts and Challenges. Valorization of Lignocellulose by Producing Polyhydroxyalkanoates under Circular Bioeconomy Premises: Facts and Challenges. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04925
Related projects
- H2_BIOCAPABLE: H2 production from biomass by combination of catalytic, photocatalytic & biological processes
- Catalytic and biological transformation of coffee grounds into bioplastics
Other related technologies
